Greenhouse Effect Experiment
Collaborators:
Sam Freeman and Hebiba Fofana
Abstract:
Two identical cups each containing roughly six ounces of water were put directly below a lamp with a 75 watt bulb. The top of one of the cups, however, was covered with a layer of saran wrap. The temperature of the water in both cups was measured prior to turning the lamp on. After the starting temperature had been recorded, the lamp was turned on for seven minutes and the temperature was measured again. The lamp was then turned off for seven more minutes and the temperature was recorded yet again. We discovered that the water in both cups heated up about the same amount during the time when the lamp was on but when the lamp was turned off, the one without saran wrap cooled slightly more than the one with the saran wrap.
Problem:
According to the EPA's website, greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere and thus keep the planet warm; "If it were not for the greenhouse gasses trapping heat in the atmosphere, the Earth would be a very cold place." How can the Greenhouse Effect be simulated using basic supplies available in the classroom?
Hypothesis:
If two cups filled with six ounces of water, one with saran wrap over the top, are heated for seven minutes by a lamp, then when the lamp is turned off, the water in the cup with saran wrap will retain it's heat better than the one without saran wrap.
Parts of the Experiment:
The Control is the cup without the saran wrap. The Experimental Group is the cup with the saran wrap. The Independent Variable is the saran wrap. The Dependent Variable is the temperature of the water.
Materials:
Two plastic cups, saran wrap, tape, two thermometers, lamp stand, lamp, water
Methods:
1. Pour roughly six ounces of water into two different cups
2. Tape a thermometer to the inside of each of the cups so that the tip is submerged in the water
3. Cover the top of one of the cups with saran wrap using tape
4. Put the lamp on the lamp stand
5. Move the two cups close together
6. Situate the lamp to a about 3 inches above the top of both cups
At this point, the experiment should look like this:
Collaborators:
Sam Freeman and Hebiba Fofana
Abstract:
Two identical cups each containing roughly six ounces of water were put directly below a lamp with a 75 watt bulb. The top of one of the cups, however, was covered with a layer of saran wrap. The temperature of the water in both cups was measured prior to turning the lamp on. After the starting temperature had been recorded, the lamp was turned on for seven minutes and the temperature was measured again. The lamp was then turned off for seven more minutes and the temperature was recorded yet again. We discovered that the water in both cups heated up about the same amount during the time when the lamp was on but when the lamp was turned off, the one without saran wrap cooled slightly more than the one with the saran wrap.
Problem:
According to the EPA's website, greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere and thus keep the planet warm; "If it were not for the greenhouse gasses trapping heat in the atmosphere, the Earth would be a very cold place." How can the Greenhouse Effect be simulated using basic supplies available in the classroom?
Hypothesis:
If two cups filled with six ounces of water, one with saran wrap over the top, are heated for seven minutes by a lamp, then when the lamp is turned off, the water in the cup with saran wrap will retain it's heat better than the one without saran wrap.
Parts of the Experiment:
The Control is the cup without the saran wrap. The Experimental Group is the cup with the saran wrap. The Independent Variable is the saran wrap. The Dependent Variable is the temperature of the water.
Materials:
Two plastic cups, saran wrap, tape, two thermometers, lamp stand, lamp, water
Methods:
1. Pour roughly six ounces of water into two different cups
2. Tape a thermometer to the inside of each of the cups so that the tip is submerged in the water
3. Cover the top of one of the cups with saran wrap using tape
4. Put the lamp on the lamp stand
5. Move the two cups close together
6. Situate the lamp to a about 3 inches above the top of both cups
At this point, the experiment should look like this:
7. Record the temperature of the water in both cups
8. Turn the lamp on for seven minutes and then measure the temperatures again
9. Turn the lamp off for seven minutes and record the temperature once more
Data:
(Note: All temperatures are in Celsius and all time is in minutes.)
8. Turn the lamp on for seven minutes and then measure the temperatures again
9. Turn the lamp off for seven minutes and record the temperature once more
Data:
(Note: All temperatures are in Celsius and all time is in minutes.)
Data Analysis:
When the lamp was turned on for seven minutes, the water in both cups heated up at the same rate. When the lamp was turned off however, the water in the cup with the saran wrap maintained its temperature slightly better than the water in the cup without the saran wrap. One thing about the data that is worrisome is the different starting temperatures despite the fact that the water in both cups was gathered from the same source at about the same time. This leads to me to be skeptical of the validity of the results of the experiment.
Concussion:
My hypothesis was that if two cups filled with six ounces of water, one with saran wrap over the top, are heated for seven minutes by a lamp, then when the lamp is turned off, the water in the cup with saran wrap will retain it's heat better than the one without saran wrap. The data gathered supports this idea although I question the validity of said data.
Citations:
"The Greenhouse Effect." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013. <http://epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html>.
When the lamp was turned on for seven minutes, the water in both cups heated up at the same rate. When the lamp was turned off however, the water in the cup with the saran wrap maintained its temperature slightly better than the water in the cup without the saran wrap. One thing about the data that is worrisome is the different starting temperatures despite the fact that the water in both cups was gathered from the same source at about the same time. This leads to me to be skeptical of the validity of the results of the experiment.
Concussion:
My hypothesis was that if two cups filled with six ounces of water, one with saran wrap over the top, are heated for seven minutes by a lamp, then when the lamp is turned off, the water in the cup with saran wrap will retain it's heat better than the one without saran wrap. The data gathered supports this idea although I question the validity of said data.
Citations:
"The Greenhouse Effect." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013. <http://epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html>.